Take time for Self Care
In the current environment, it is important to pay attention to self-care; but what is "
self-care
"?
According to Google, "self-care is any activity a person does deliberately to take care of their mental, emotional, and physical health". It is not about being selfish or putting your needs above others. It is taking care of your needs so that, in turn, you can take care of others. A great example is a flight attendant who instructs the passengers "to put the face mask on themselves first before attempting to assist another passenger".
Here are a few self-care tips to get you started:
1.
Declutter
- You don't have to tackle a big project, just start small and give yourself a 30-minute time limit. You could go through your junk mail pile or dresser drawers; the point is that even small victories over clutter can give you a feeling of accomplishment.
2.
Music
- Make a music playlist with your favorite feel-good music. The genre doesn't matter as long as it makes you feel good.
3.
NonAlcoholic Happy Hours
- Have a happy hour with friends on Zoom or Google Meet. Share fun times by having a meal together, a cup of coffee, or play a silly game to shake off the week's stress.
4.
Limit Social Media
- Take a break from social media to decrease the amount of negative information you consume.
You'd be surprised how much better you feel if you stop looking at your phone for a while.
5.
Exercise
- Get moving! Studies show exercise helps release stress, whether it is taking the dog for a walk, stretching, or even just dancing in your living room.
6.
Meditate
- There are many kinds of meditation practices you can learn. Start slow by checking out websites like
Mindful.org
where you can learn meditation/mindfulness techniques that can be done in as little as 10 minutes.
7.
Get More Sleep
- For most of us, we do not get enough sleep especially now when our sleep patterns can be interrupted. Many health professionals feel lack of sleep can cause major health issues.
8.
Learn to say No
- Sometimes we need to say No to recharge our batteries. Don't feel guilty, remember the car doesn't run without gas!
9.
Read
- Try reading a book on self-care, or a new mystery or other fiction novel to take your mind off your stress.
10.
Plan
- It's important to regularly schedule self-care time. Even if it's a few minutes a day, schedule it and guard it like you would a meeting.
It's up to you to make sure that you take care of yourself during these challenging times. By practicing regular self-care, you will be better equipped to deal with the stress brought on by COVID-19.
Stay Motivated & Good luck!
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